Machine for covering boot and shoe straps.



L. vA. GALE. MACHINE FOR COVERING BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS.

APPLICATION FILED K0129, 1907,

Patented Aug. 24. 1909.

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ANDREW. s e f-nun up rnoro-Lnnuanwuas, wnsmvmron u L. A. GALE.

MACHINE FOR oovrznme BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS. APPLIOATIONV FILED NOV. 29,1907.

93 1 ,748. Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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L. A: GALE. MAGEJNE r03 COVERING BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 29, 1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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L. A. GALE;

MACHINE FOR COVERING BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1907. 93 1 ,748. Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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Anulivl. I. will 00. rHdw-umocuwuus. WASHINGTON, n 9.

L. A. GALE. MACHINE FOR oovnnme BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS. APPLICATION FILEDNOV. 29, 1907.

93 1,748, Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET .5.

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\7 I Mmssszw- F1 7. 51 flvvavrmz UNITED TATE PATENT FFICIJ.

LABURTON A. GALE, 0F MAIDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR TO UNITED SHOEMACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR COVERING BOOT AND SHOE STRAPS.

To all whom it may concern:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. November 29, 1907.

Patented Aug. 24-, 1909.

Serial No. 4%,351.

and to undo the work of the wrapping and Be it known that I, LABURTON A.GALE, a I pasting mechanisms. Moreover, in advanccitizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Malden, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealthof Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines forCovering Boot and Shoe Straps, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likereference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in theseveral figures.

This invention relates to machines for applying covering material toboot and shoe straps prior to attaching such straps to boots or shoes.

As 1S well known, straps for boots or shoes are commonly provided with acover, usually of thin paper, before being secured in place,

the objectbeing to prevent soiling of the strap in attaching it to theshoe and in subsequent operations. According to a wellknown mode ofprocedure, the covering material is wrapped transversely about thestrap, said material being secured from unfolding, if desired, by beingpasted upon itself, and the covered strap is then doubled at a pointapproximately equidistant fr m its ends. In this form the free ends ofthe covered strap, which are commonly left exposed, are secured to theshoe.

t is the object of my invention to construct a machine by which theprocedure aboveneferred to may be automatically performed, and in whichdefects which have been incident to prior machines for covering strapsare removed.

. In machines as heretofore constructed mechanisms for wrapping coveringmaterial about a strap, for securing said material by means of paste,and for doubling the covered strap, have been employed. In all priormachines of which I am aware, however, the application of the coveringmaterial to the strap and the doubling of the covered strap have beenperformed at different points in the machine, the strap being advancedfrom a position in which the covering material is applied to a pointwhere the doubling operation is performed. This characteristic of priormachines has necessarily detracted to a considerable degree from theirefficiency. The feeding movement imparted to the strap longitudinallyafter applying the covering material tends to disturb the cover ing thestrap provided with a pasted cover there is considerable liability ofsaid strap being inaccurately positioned with relation to the doublingmechanism, the strap being consequently doubled at the wrong place inits length.

According to my invention, the covered strap is removed from coveringposition by movement transverse to the strap. Preferably the coveredstrap is doubled at the point in the machine Where the cover is appliedand immediately after the covering operation is completed. Thus nochange in position of the strap is required upon the completion of thewrapping and pasting operations to bring it in operative relation todoubling mechanism and there is consequently no possibility of the coverbeing displaced or disturbed from this cause, or of the covered strapassuming an improper position with relation to the doubling mechanism.

In accordance with another feature of my invention, I form into arentrant fold the excess of covering material in the bight of each strapduring the preliminary creasing operation, and then double the coveredstrap and compress the strap thus covered and doubled to flatten thebight of the strap with the reentrant fold therein. The particularobject of this feature of my invention is to produce a strap or similararticle with a cover which fits very snugly, so that when the strap hasbeen doubled and compressed with the cover in place, the loop of thestrap will be flat and the cover less liable to be loosened and thenproject and be torn from the strap, this happening often when the excessof covering material within the bight of the loop causes the sides tobulge as heretofore. By the term strap as used herein I do not limitmyself to the shoe strap of commerce. as I contemplate the use of myimprovements in any field for which they are adapted by their nature.

I have shown my invention applied to a machine of a. type in which thewebbing, commonly used for shoe straps, remains in a I stationaryposition while a strip of paper is wrapped about it transversely. Inmachines of this type the paths of the webbing and paper are commonly atright angles, and said materials are moved intermittingly into coveringposition in suflicient length to form a strap and its cover. In thecovering operation the strip of webbing is superposed on the strip ofpaper and the ends of the paper are folded transversely over the webbingand pasted together. In applying my invention to such a machine, Iprovide a doubling member, shown as a flat blade, preferably having aforked end to form the reentrant fold, and doubling rolls, said bladeand rolls being arranged on opposite sides of the covered strap in theposition which it occupies while being covered, and preferably above andbelow said strap, respectively. I provide means for severing the webbingat a point to form a strap of the requlred length, which means actsimmediately upon the completion of the folding and pasting operation. Atapproximately the same time the creasing blade descends to crease thecovered strap centrally and force it between the rolls which completethe doubling operation and discharge the covered and doubled strap fromthe machine.

To feed the webbing into position to be covered, I provide improvedfeeding mechanism, preferably taking the form of a reciprocating tubularbeak, acting intermittently upon the web adjacent its free end, afterseverance, to thrust the free end forward into position to be graspedand drawn into covering position; and in cooperation therewith, I use areciprocatory gripping member having jaws constructed to grasp the freeend of the webbing, said member being arranged to seize the webbing,draw it into covering position, and release it at the proper time. Iprefer to hold the webbing under slight tension while the paper is beingapplied,.and the construction herein disclosed is therefore such thatthe jaws release the webbing subsequently to the application of thepaper.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described anddefined in the claims. 1

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of a machine inthe construction of which my invention has been embodied; and Fig. 1" isa view in perspective of the covered strap as it appears when completedand discharged from the machine, one side of the strap being partlybroken away, to show more clearly the inner fold of the wrapper; Fig. 2is a view in side elevation of the same machine looking from right toleft, Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a similar view looking from left to right Fig.1; Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical, sectional views taken 011 the line :r-mFig. 2, looking from left to right, parts being shown in elevation, andthese figures illustrate respectively positions of the moving partsduring the feeding operation; Fig. (3 is a vertical, sectional view onthe line y-y, Fig. 1, looking from right to left, parts being shown inelevation; Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the movable wrapping bedF, and some of its operating parts, the same being broken away in placesto reveal details of construction; and Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive aredetail views, similar to Fig. (5, showing different phases of thefolding operation; Figs. 11 and 12 are views, similar to Figs. 1 and 5,illustrative of the doubling operation; and Fig. 13 is a detail View ofthe reciprocating segmental rack and clutch which operates thewrapperstock feedroll.

I will first state briefly the operation of the machine shown in thedrawings, this embodiment of my invention having been selected forillustration and description as a convenient form to enable ready andcomplete understanding of my improvements, and I will thereafter give amore detailed description of the several mechanisms of which the machineis composed.

Smmnmy of operation of the machine- The strip A of webbing or othersuitable strap stock, (from a roll or other source of stock, not shown)is led, as indicated at the right hand of Fig. 1, through primary feedmechanism comprising an intermittently operating feeding beak or deviceB which positions the free end a of the strip at the right point (seeFig. 4) to be grasped by secondary feed means consisting of a slidinggripper G, the jaws 0, 0 of which seize the strip and pull it along (seeFig. through the beak and across a strip of paper or other coveringstock D (see Fig. 6), which a roll E has fed above the bed F andtransversely beneath the portion of the web to be covered. After thisfeeding operation, the bed F rises while the strip is still sustainedunder tension between the beak and the jaws, bringing into actionfolders j", 7, which in their ascent (see Fig. 8) turn upward the sidesof the covering blank of paper (the latter having first been severedfrom the stock strip I) by a shear j) which rises with the bed and thefolders are then turned to fold the edges of the paper in overlappingrelation through a sequence of operations shown in Figs. 8 to 10inclusive, paste having been applied, if desired, at a suitable point inthe operation at or near each of the ends of the forward edge (Z of thepaper cover blank, as at f (see Fig. 8), so that when folded theoverlapping edges are secured together. The strip having thus beencovered, and while the folders are held yieldingly downward (see Fig.11) by the action of the springs f f (see Fig. 3) connected with crankarms on the outer ends of the folder shafts 7, f, the creasing blade ordevice G descends (see Figs. 11 and 12) carrying with it a plunger 9which engages an extension 0 of the movable jaw 0 of the gripper slide,opening the aws and releasing the end a of the strap the other end ofwhich is at the same time severed from the stock by a knife H, acting atthe proper region of the strip to give a strap of the desired length.The creasing blade G continues its descent, and pushes ahead of it thecovered strap into the bight of a pair of rolls and g which complete thedoubling operation, compress ing the doubled strap and discharging ittoward the bottom of the machine, at which point it presents theappearance shown in Fig. I being ready for attachment to the shoe upper,the numerals 1 and 2 designating the strap and its cover respectively.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for feeding the strap and wrapperstock and for accomplishing the operations of wrapping and pasting thecover upon the strap, but I will now describe in detail my preferredmechanism which embodies substantial improvements over the earliermcchanisms employed.

The feeding 0pe'mt2'0'n-.The mechanism for positioning the strap stockfor the covering operation may be of any suitable construction, but Iprefer to utilize means to act intermittently upon the strip of webbingnear the severed end, to thrust the free end forward into position to begrasped and drawn into covering position, and serving also to sustainthe free end of the strap material during the covering operation. Thereciprocating feeding beak B to which I have made reference aboveconstitutes one convenient form of positioning and sustaining deviceoperated intermittently to give the strap a primary feed movement, andcomprises (see Fig. 5) a lower tubular mandible Z) with a throat b of asize suitable to permit passage of the strip A normally, but not largeenough to allow passage of any portion of said strip which may beenlarged to a degree that would unfit the strip for use in formation ofa strap, as for example an unduly thick strip; or webbing too looselywoven, or kinked; or a portion containing the joint between the ends ofthe shorter strip portions which are usually pinned together to form thesubstantially continuous stock strip. in addition to this means fordetecting faults in the stock and preventing passage of the faultymaterial into the machine, I contemplate the use, when desirable, ofsuitable mechanism to stop the machine automatically, acting upon theadvent of the fault, as, for example, the stop mechanism disclosed in myco-pending application Serial No. 21,358. At the other end of themandible Z), the upper portion of the tube is cut away, leaving a lowerlip, as indicated at b", to receive a shorter upper mandible or movabletooth Z2 the latter having a downwardly project-ing point, hook or cusp(2*, (see Fig. 1,) held normally into close engagement with the stripportion a by action of a spring or other suitable pressure device Z),the latter being secured by ascrew upon the head Z) from which the beakprojects, this head being slotted (see F 2) to pass the web strip A, andbeing actuated by means suitable to cause its reciprocation, which meansin the instance illustrated take the form of an upright arm I) mountedpivotally at a on the base of the machine (see Figs. 1 and 2) andconnected pivotally at b to the head 6, so thatthe latter can move in aplane determined by guides 5 mounted on a bracket 7), the latter beingsecured by a screw to the frame part j, and the guides having a groovedconnection I) with the beakcarrying head. By the term beak, I designateany device of suitable contour and material to effect the purposedisclosed, and as one convenient form of construction I have shown it asmade of sheet metal, soldered or otherwise secured as at 6 upon rods Z),the latter (see Fig. 2) being inserted within holes Z) in the head 6,and there held in adjusted position by screws 6 To actuate the arm 6 Ihave shown a cam 7t mounted upon the main shaft K, and having aperipheral track to receive an anti-friction roll I)" projecting fromthe arm, the cam track having an actuating portion 76 to which referencewill be made later.

Secondary feed means.ii hen the end a of the web stock strip has beenfed forward thus into position (see Fig. 4) to be grasped by thecooperating gripper feed jaws 0, c constituting the preferred form ofsecondary feed means, the gripper slide C begins its feeding movementfrom right to left along the slideway j (see Figs. and 5), the firsteffect of this movement being to release the upwardly extending tailpiece 0 of the lower gripper feed aw 0 from the action of bracket arm7'" secured by a screw j in position upon a bearing bracket 7*, which inturn is fastened by a screw upon the frame member j. The arm serves atthe end of each forward movement of the grip per slide to separate thejaws at the point where the end a of the strip is to be fed betweenthem.

The reciprocating movement of the gripper slide may be effected by anysuitable means and is accomplished in the instance illustrated by a linkand a crank c, the crank being carried by a rock shaft 0 mounted in theframe arm y extending above the slideway 7' and the rock shaft has anactuating arm 0 connected by a thumb screw 0", adjustable to regulatethe stroke of the gripper slide in a slot 0 with a pitman 0 extendingdownward and operated at its lower end by a lever arm a mountedpivotally on the frame at 0 and having (see Fig. 2) an intermediateanti-friction roll o entering a cam track 7: in the face of the cam 7cmounted on the main shaft K.

As shown in Fig. 5, a spring 0 serves normally as means to hold the jaw0 turned on its pivot (1* toward the jaw c with the end a of the stripgrasped between them, and the gripper slide C continues its leftwardmovement along the slideway 7", it draws with it the strip A between themandibles of the beak, and at the same time the beak drawn backwardalong the strip by action of the cam track so that the beak is inposition (see Fig. 5) to feed forward quickly a fresh supply of stripafter the blank has been severed, as by the knife H, and when theportion Z? of the cam track again acts upon the arm If. Concurrentlywith this feeding motion of the webbing strip, there has been (see Fig.(5) a similar advance of the end portion (Z of the covering material,which may be paper or any suitable fabric or substance, as, for example,the strip of paper I), from a roll (I carried by a spindle (Z mounted inarms j of the frame. The end (Z of the paper is fed across a supportingapron a, secured by thumb screws 0" upon the frame at j*, and thence tosuitable feeding mechanism, such as the wrapperstock feed-roll E, whichis driven by a shaft 0 mounted in bearings j in the side mem-' bers 7' iThis shaft is actuated preferably in the forward direction only, havingsee Figs. 3 and 13) for the purpose a clutch gear 0'', with cam recesses0*, balls 0' and springs e, which cooperate in the usual manner to gripthe shaft 0 and advance the paper strip when the gear receives right.hand rotation from the upward movement of the intermeshing segmentalrack 6 but permit free rotation of the clutch when the segmental rackdescends. The segmental rack is mounted pivotally at 0 upon the framemember j and receives its actuation from the main driving shaft K, byconnections including an adjustable pin-and-slot connection with thecompound lever members 6 and 0 which permits regulation in the size ofthe cover blanks fed, the lever (1 being mounted on the rock shaft 0which carries within the frame, (see Fig. (3) a cam lever c, with ananti-friction roll 0 running in a face track if of a cam it upon themain shaft K.

A spring pressed idler roll 0 is provided preferably (see Fig. (3) tocooperate with the roll E by which the paper strip is advanced over asupporting ledge 6 and beneath a stationary shear member 0, thenceacross the bed F, where it preferably engages suitable positioningdevices consisting in the instance illustrated of fingers adjacent tothe paster mechanism, the free end of the paper being held by thedevices up against an apron 7" formed preferably of a strip of sheetmetal with its ends turned down to form arms 7' secured by screws 7' 011the outside of the bed F near the paste vat f.

At or about this time, paster devices f may be brought into play, theseconsisting in the instance illustrated of arms passing through holes fin a rock shaft 7, to which they are adjustably secured by set screwsf". This shaft is mounted in bearings f on brackets f extending forwardfrom the frame, and the shaft is rotated by a crank f secured on theouter end of the shaft and from which extends (see Fig. 3) a connectingrod 7 secured at its other end by an adjustable bolt 7 in the slot of alever f having an anti-friction device f entering and operated by a camtrack It in the face of a cam disk k mounted upon the main shaft K. Thepasters f are arranged to apply only a small quantity of paste f neareach end of the paper (as shown in Fig. 8) so as to leave the centralportion unhampered by paste during the doubling operation, this freedomfrom paste permitting a much smoother fold than when the free movementof the paper is hindered by pasting the edges together.

Covering and pasting operation, (see Fig. (3.) The strip a of webbingbeing thus in position overlying the blank of wrapping paper, the latteris raised (see Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive) into contact with the strip byupward movement of the bed F, the frame for the bed comprising guides wiich slide in guide ways j, formed in the uprights 7' j, of the mainframe, and at the inner edge of the bed is provided preferably a shear7' which, as the bed moves upward, may serve in cooperation with thestationary shear member 6" (supported yieldingly by the frame upright asa convenient mechanism to sever the blank of paper, leaving the inneredge (Z of the latter free to be bent up by the folders as they moveupward beside the paper into the position shown in Fig. 8.

he upward movement of the bed is caused by arms having a pin-and-slotconnection 7" at each side of the bed, these arms being (see Fig. 7)mounted rotatively on a shaft 7" mounted in bearings at is upon the mainframe of the machine, one of the arms having at an inter iediate portionan anti-friction roll f which enters and is acted upon by the face track7'. of the cam mounted on the main shaft between the frame standards,

To fold over the upwardly extended edges of the paper from the positionshown in Fig. 8, the folders and f are rotated with their shafts f, f bythe action (see Figs. 1 and 3) of springs f 7* extending along bearingrods 7, f, which pass through bearing holes in rotating bearing studs f,on crank arms f 7 at the outer ends of the shafts f, The springs 7, 7engage also collars f", i on the connecting rods f, f and the rods areconnected with the free end 7" of an arm f the other end of which f ismounted pivotally on the frame. The arm 7' is actuated by engagement ofan anti-friction roll f with a cam trackin the face of a cam disk ismounted on the main shaft, and as it ascends, the arm moves first thespring f and folder f into the position shown in Fig. 9, and secondlythe spring 7' and folder f into the position shown in Fig. 10, thefolding, pasting and covering operation being now completed.

After the doubling operation, to be described later, the connecting rodsf, 32 are d awn downward by descent of the crank arm f and raise hefolders through the medium of the springs f", i which insure a normallyvertical position of the folders, regardless of the vertical position ofthe bed. (See Fig. 3).

Doublz' /zg 0pcrazf i0n.The strap having been thus covered withoutmoving it from the position to which itwas brought by the feedingmechanism, 1 will now describe the mechanism which serves, in theinstance illustrated, as one convenient form of construction to creaseand double, or fold, the covered strap at the point in the machine wherethe cover has just been applied, and while the strap is still inoperative relation with the covering mechanism.

The creasing blade or device G (see Fig. l) is forked, in accordancewith another feature of my invention, being formed preferably of aplurality of leaves 9 slightly separated it their free ends so that whenthey engage the paper cover at the middle of the strap, to initiate thedoubling operation, the leaves receive between them the slight excess ofdouble paper within the bight of the loop, and form the same into areentrant fold, which presents approximately the appearance illustratedat 3, in Fig. 1". This, with the absence of paste along the middleportion of the lap e, aids to cause the formation of a smooth flatinterior surface within the bight of the cover, as shown in 1 after thestrap has passed through the doubling and com-pressing rolls, which fixthe reentrant fold 3 permanently and flatten the bight, giving it theneat appearance illustrated.

Ido not claim herein the covered shoe strap having its excess of covermaterial formed into a reentrant fold; nor the novel method of formingthe same; as these form the subject matter of my pending applicationSerial No. 10%,352 filed November 29, 1907.

Any suitable hearing may be provided for the doubling blades, and I haveillustrated one convenient form comprising a bracket j carried by an armsecured at to the frame member j, the bearing being slotted at j toreceive the leaves, which are carried at the end of a plunger 9 and thisin turn is operated by a rocking beam g mounted pivotally at g upon themember 7' of the frame and has a slot and pin connection 9 with theupper end of the plunger. The other end of the beam is connectedpivotally at g to a collar g through which extends a pitman g on which aplurality of collars g, g, are secured in adjusted position by setscrews.

For the downward, or doubling movement, the beam is actuated positivelyby the collar 9 but between the collars g and g an intervening coilspring 5 is provided, in accordance with my invention, so that thedownward draft of the pitman upon the beam and it upward draft on theblades 9 will be of a yielding character until the rolls shall havecleared the bight of the strap from the blades, after which the springwill cause the beam to withdraw the doubling blades rapidly from betweenthe folded portions of the strap as soon as the latter shall have beenadvanced far enough by the doubling rolls, the operation of which willbe described later. During the doubling operation the folders f, 7, holdthe covered strap yieldingly upon the bed F, as seen best in Fig. 11, sothat the strap can be withdrawn from beneath the folders by the actionof the creasing blade, which descends between the folders and throughthe bed at their central cut-away portion.

To actuate the pitman g I have shown it as connected at its lower end toa lever g, the other end of which is mounted pivotally at on the framemember j, the lever having at its middle portion an anti-friction roll 9engaging a cam track in a cam 713 mounted on the main shaft K.

My invention includes also means to open positively the strap jaws,concurrently with descent of the creaser, and accordingly, as the beamforces down the plunger g, at the same time it forces down anotherplunger g, which I have provided to engage the tail piece 0 of the jawc, and to depress the latter, thereby acting positively to release thefree end a of the strip. I provide also for severance at about the sametime of the other end of the strap, from the stock strip at a point nearthe beak, and this I accomplish preferably by means of a knife H (seeFig. 11) mounted upon a rock shaft it (see Fig. l) and cooperating witha stationary shear 72. mounted on the bracket 6. The rock shaft iscarried by a bearing 7' on the bracket 5 and has at its other end alever arm [t extending downward, and provided with an anti-friction roll7L3 which is engaged and operated by a cam 70 mounted on the main shaft.

There now remain to be described only the doubling rolls, and the meansfor actuating them, which will be understood best by reference to Figs.1, 6 and 7, in which the rolls g and g are shown as having shafts g,

journaled in the bed F, the rolls being held normally toward each otherby a spring plunger g (see Fig. l) which engages the roll journals 9lying in the horizontal slots 9 These rolls have intermeshing gears 9and g, and an actuating gear g meshes with the gear 9 being mounted in abearing bracket 9 at one end, and having a shaft- 9 extending toward therear of the machine where it is j ournaled in a member 9 andis providedwith a bevel gear 9 meshing with another bevel gear upon the shaft f andthis latter gear is actuated by an intermediate gear on a stud g andoperated by a gear k mounted on the main shaft of the machine. It willthus be seen that whatever the position of the moving bed, which israised by the arms when actuated by the cam surface inasmuch as thesearms rotate about the shaft f, the gears 51* and g will continuallyintermesh and when thus constructed will rotate continuously the rolls gand 9 To actuate the main shaft K I have shown it (see Fig. 1) asprovided with a gear 73 meshing with intermediate gears and pinions (notshown) in connection with a short shaft in which carries an actuatingpulley 7a which may be operated by hand or by belt, from a suitablesource of power not shown.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a strap-covering machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying covering material to a strap, of mechanism for folding thecovered strap arranged and constructed to act while the strap is inoperative relation to its covering mechanism.

2. In a strap-covering machine, the combination with mechanism forfolding and pasting a strip of covering material about a strip ofwebbing, of means for removing the covered webbing from coveringposition arranged and constructed to fold said webbing in its operation.

3. In a strap-covering machine, the combination with means forsustaining a strip of webbing in a predetermined position, of mechanismfor applying covering material to said webbing and mechanism for foldingthe covered webbing, said mechanisms being arranged and constructed toact successively upon the webbing while sustained in said position.

4. I11 a strap-covering machine, the combination with mechanism forapplying a covering material to webbing, of means for folding thecovered webbing arranged and constructed to act upon said webbing priorto its removal from said mechanism.

5. In a strap-covering machine, the combination w th means forsustaining webbing in position to receive the application of the cover,of mechanism for applying covering material to said webbing mechanismfor severing the webbing, arranged and constructed to act'uponthewebbing while in said posi-,' tion, and means for removing thecovered webbing from said mechanism.

6. In a'strap-covering machine, the com bination with means forsustaining the free end of strap material, mechanism for applying acover to said material, mechanism for folding the covered strap and asevering device intermediate said sustaining means and the coveringmechanism, of means for advancing said strap material into operativerelation to said mechanism constructed and arranged to seize said freeend and move forwardly with the strap.

7. In a strap-covering machine, mechanism for feeding the coveringpaper, intermittently operated mechanism for giving the strap a primaryfeed movement, secondary feed means, comprising cooperating jaws, meansto cause the said jaws to engage the strap and complete the feed thereofto a position over the covering paper and to hold the same undertension, means to fold the covering paper over the strap, means to opensaid feed jaws to release the strap, and

means to discharge the strap from the ma chine.

8. In a strap-covering machine, the combination with mechanism forfeeding paper into covering position and for severing the paper to forma covering strip, of mechanism for feeding webbing transversely to theline of feed of the paper and above and approximately centrally of saidcovering strip, a frame having a bed to support said paper and webbingand vertically movable to permit said bed to be moved into and out ofposition to receive said paper and webbing, folders arranged on oppositesides of said bed, and means for actuating said folders.

9. A machine for covering shoe straps, having, in combination, mechanismfor folding a strip of covering material about a strip of webbing,mechanism for severing the webbing to form a strap of a predeterminedlength, and means for removing the covered strap from covering positionby a movement transverse to the strap.

10. A machine for covering shoe straps, having, in combination, meansfor advancing the webbing into position to be acted upon, mechanism forapplying covering material to said webbing, and mechanism for severingthe webbing to form a strap of a 'n'edetermined length arranged to actupon the webbing while sustained in covering position, and means forremoving the covered webbing from operative relation to said mechanism.

11. A machine for covering shoe straps, having, in combination, meansfor sustaining the free end of a continuous strip of strap material,mechanism for applying a cover to said material, means for advancing thematerial into operative relation to said mechanism, and means forsevering said material at a point between said mechanism and saidsustaining means.

12. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with mechanism for applying covering material to strapstock, of mechanism to draw said stock into covering position, mechanismto sever said strap from said stock, and mechanism acting intermittentlyupon said stock after each covering and severing operation to advancethe freshly cut end of successive portions of said strap stock intoposition to be grasped by said draft mechanism.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with coveringmechanism and a reciprocating gripper device having jaws to grasp astrip of stock and draw it into position to be covered, of mechanism toact intermittently upon said stock strip and feed fresh supplies of thesame successively into position to be grasped by said jaws.

14. A feeding device for apparatus of the class described, said deviceconsisting of a reciprocating beak comprising a plurality of mandibles,one of said mandibles having a throat to pass a stock strip of webbingor the like, and said other mandible being arranged to permit passage ofsaid strip through said beak in one direction only.

15. A feeding beak for apparatus of the class described, said beakcomprising an upper mandible and a lower mandible, said lower 11 audiblehaving a throat to pass a stock strip of webbing or the like, and saidupper mandible being arranged to engage and feed said strip when saidbeak is advanced, and to permit passage of said strip through said beakduring retraction of the latter.

16. A reciprorating device to impart an intermittent feeding movement toa strip of webbing or similar stock in apparatus of the class set forth;said device comprising a head portion; a beak carried thereby, includinga lower mandible having a throat to pass said stock strip, and a lipprojecting beyond said throat, a movable upper mandible or tooth to restupon the upper surface of said stock strip and permit passage thereofthrough said throat during retraction of said beak, and having a hook,cusp, or downward projection to engage and feed said strip when saidbeak is advanced; a pressure device to maintain said upper mandibleyieldingly in operative relation with said strip; and means toreciprocate said feeding device, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a strap covering machine having a frame, guidesupon said frame, and an actuating shaft provided with a cam; of areciprocating device to feed intermittently a strip of webbing orsimilar stock to said machine, said device comprising a sliding headmounted on said guides, a tubular feeding beak carried by said head andarranged to pass said stock strip upon retraction of said head toreceive thereby a fresh supply of said strap stock, and acting to feedsaid supply upon advance of said head, and an actuating arm mounted nearone end in bearings on said frame and connected near its other end tosaid head, said arm having at its medial portion means to engage and beoperated by said cam, substantially as described.

18. As an article of manufacture, a feeding device for the purpose setforth; comprising a head or body portion with lateral grooves to receiveand be carried by a plurality of guides, 1 cesses to receivebeak-supporting rods, and an upwardly extending portion slotted to passa stock strip; and a beak carried by said head; said beak consisting ofa lower mandible of sheet metal provided with a plurality of rodsarranged to enter said recesses, said mandible having a throat to pass astock strip, and a lip projecting beyond said throat, and an uppermandible or tooth above said lip, said upper mandible having a hook,cusp or downward projection to engage and feed said strap during advanceof said beak, but permit ting passage of said strap upon retraction ofsaid beak for a fresh supply of strap, and a spring secured near one endupon said head and having its free end in engagement with said uppermandible to hold the same yieldingly toward said lip; substantially asdescribed.

19. in a strap covering machine, strap feeding mechanism, strap creasingmechanism, and means acting to release said strap from said feedingmechanism and thereupon to operate said creasing mechanism,substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

20. In a strap covering machine; a gripper device provided with aplurality of gripper jaws to grasp and draw said strap into coveringposition; one of said jaws being pivoted and provided with a portionarranged to be engaged to rotate said jaw; and means to engage saidportion to open said jaws and release said strap, substantially asdescribed.

21. In a strap covering machine; a gripper device having a movablegripper-jaw; creasing mechanism; and means to actuate said creasingmechanism; said actuating means having a portion to operate said movablejaw and release said strap, substantially as described.

22. In a strap covering machine; creasing mechanism, a reciprocatinggripper device having a plurality of gripper jaws to grasp the free endof the strap stock strip and draw the same beneath said creasingmechanism, a lever to actuate said creasing mechanism, and a plungeralso actuated by said lever to open said jaws to release said strap.

23. In a strap covering machine; a creasing mechanism; areciprocatinggripper device having a plurality of gripper jaws to grasp the free endof the strap stock and draw the same beneath said creasing mechanism,one of said jaws being movable and having an operating portion; a leverto actuate said creasing mechanism; and a plunger also actuated by saidlever to engage the operating portion of said movable jaw to releasesaid strap; strap severing mechanism; and means to actuate said severingmechanism at the time of release of the free end of said strap and priorto said creasing operation, substantially as described.

24. In a strap covering machine; a creasing plunger, and a walking-beamto actuate said plunger; a reciprocating gripper device having gripperjaws to grasp the free end of a stock strip and draw the same beneathsaid creasing plunger, one of said jaws being movable and having anoperating portion; and a jaw pushing plunger mounted on and actuated bysaid walking-beam, to engage said operating portion and open saidmovable jaw to release said strap prior to operative engagement of saidstrap by said creasing plunger. I

25. In a. strap covering machine; a pair of rolls to receive and doublesaid strap, a creasing blade to engage said strap medially and introducethe same between said rolls, a plunger to operate said blade, a.walkingbeain having one arm ciinmected operatively with said plunger,and a pitman to actuate the other arm of said walking-beam, saidwalking-beam having a pivotally connected collar provided with anaperture to pass the upper portion of said pitman; and a plurality ofcollars fixed upon said pit-man, one acting positively upon the collarof said walking-beam to actuate the latter to move said plunger andcreasing blade into opcrative engagement with said strap, and a springsurrounding said pitman intermediate said beam collar and said otherfixed collar on said pitman, so that upon retractive movement of saidpitman a yielding draft will be exerted upon said creasing blade towithdraw the latter from said rolls, substantially as described.

26. In a. strap covering machine; a pair of doubling rolls to receiveand double a strap; a creasing device to engage said strap medially andintroduce it to said rolls; means to actuate said creasing devicepositively during its period of operation upon said strap; and meansacting yieldingly upon said creasing device to withdraw the same fromsaid strap and rolls after introduction of said strap to said rolls.

27. In a strap covering machine; the combination with mechanism to covera strap with a wrapper of paper or the like; of a creasing devicecomprising a plurality of leaves slightly separated at the portion whichengages said strap, substantially as described.

28. A device for creasing covered articles of the class described, saiddevice comprising means to engage the medial portion of said coveredarticle to crease the same, said means being arranged to form are'entrant fold in the material of said wrapper, within the doubledportion and adjacent the bight thereof, substantially as described.

29. A device for creasing covered donning straps for shoe uppers and thelike, said device consisting of a blade having a plurality of leafportions separated at the strap engaging end of said blade,substantially as described.

30. In a strap covering machine; a bed to receive a cover blank of paperor the like, and movable vertically to receive upon said cover blank astrap to be covered; a plurality of folders carried by rotating shaftsmounted in bearings on said bed and having cranks provided at theirouter end with rotating bearing studs; and means to actuate saidfolders, said means comprising rods, one for and passing through each ofsaid bearing studs, each rod having a compression spring and a tensionspring between said bearing studs and collars on the respective rods;and an actuating lever connected with one end of each of said rods, saidlever, when operated in one direction, acting through the medium of saidrods, collars, compression springs, bearing studs, cranks and shaftsrespectively to press said folders yieldingly upon'said cover and strapduring the folding operation, and said lever, when operated in the otherdirection, acting through said rods, collai's and tension springs, torotate said cranks and cause said folders to assume normally asubstantially vertical position regardless of the position of said bed.i

31. In a strap covering machine; the combination with web feedingmechanism, of mechanism to feed a strip of paper transversely to saidweb, an abutment to receive the forward end of said paper strip toposition the same for the pasting operation; and

a pasting device to apply paste near the ends of said forward edge,leaving the central portion free from paste.

32. In a strap covering machine; the combination with strap feedingmechanism, and cover-stock feeding mechanism; of an abutment to receiveand position the forward end of the blank for said cover; and a pastingdevice comprising a paste vat, a rockshaft mounted near said vat, and aplurality of arms moved by said rock-shaft to enter said vat for asupply of paste and thereafter to apply said paste to said forwardwrapper edge.

33. In a strap covering machine, the combination with mechanism forfeeding covering material into covering position, of mechanism forfeeding strap stock across said covering material, means to fold saidcovering material around said strap stock and press it thereagainst, anda bed platen movable toward said covering material 011 the side awayfrom said strap stock to serve as an abutment for said strap stock andcover- 15 ing material when subjected to the pressure of said foldingmeans.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificationin thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LABURTON A. GALE.

\Vitnesses BERNARD BARRows, ALLAN H. BARROWS.

